Don't we need another "who's" who person??

[Missy]

:nod: :nod: :nod: Who's it gonna be? I personally want to hear about our fearless leader...and her boyfriend....:D

[joanneb608]

:D:D Yea Missy!

I second THAT motion for sure!! It's time for our fearless leader Major General to unveil her history that makes her the marvelous leader she is!;)

[Billie]

You two crack me up!!! I will be happy to share, and I will ask Gabe to as well!

But first dinner! ;)

[joanneb608]

OH LISAS!!!:razz: HAVE SOME FAITH GIRL!:rolleyes:

We're sure that your story would be wonderfully interesting and really encouraging to the rest of us!:thumbsup:

You'll just have to garner some courage some day and let us get to know you a little better. We'll be patiently waiting . . .:)

[joanneb608]

LisaS, maybe I just was hallucinating but I thought I just read your reply to all this . . . or else you pulled off your post for editing.

Maybe you're "reconsidering" writing about yourself:question: Please do! (Yeah, I know, when you're comfortable with it!):)

[Billie]

Hmmmm well where to start, I am following some very well written wonderful ladies, so hard acts to follow Missy, Joanne, Mary and Miralin sent us a link as well.

When I was about 5 I had my tonsils taken out---yeah I am blaming it on that! :D But seriously I was so ill for so long before then that I think I started really enjoying food. So through grade school I was on the chunky side--albeit very cute if I don't say so myself!!:D I had wonderful parents and since I came along to them late in their life--how do you say whooops--I certainly was a spoiled one! My only sibling is 20 years older than I am!!!:eek:

During highschool I was very active, cheerleading, dancing all that so even if I was eating lots I was working it off.

During College I gained the normal (that is so terrible to say normal) Freshman 15 or whatever it was but still maintained pretty well. I went to an all women's school (Clarke College in Dubuque Iowa) and my husband went to the all male (Loras College in Dubuque Iowa). We met at the end of freshman year and dated the rest of the way through college and got married three weeks after graduation and two days before he started law school. I was crazy about him and loved his family so much, they were/are the best!

But even way back then, drinking was his thing. I remember thinking I can't wait for him to get out of law school so we can get out of the college scene and grow up! Since I majored in sociology, I studied drug and alcohol counseling and worked in the first women's half way house in Des Moines Iowa.

Once he graduated from law school we moved to Bloomington, Il where he began in his father's law firm. Funny thing, however, the drinking just did not stop. It was lets have one more, or you always want to go home early (like midnight was early!)...yadda! But I was a very driven person (ENTJ) and was determined to make it all work. The two boys came along, oh they are the loves of my life (well hunka Gabe too of course) and I marvel at what bright wonderful men they have turned out to be. When the oldest was a freshman in highschool and the youngest was in 4th grade, I found out that my husband was having an affair. Not to mention the alcoholism and the gambling which I managed to turn my head from, but not the affair, oh no that was not happening! There was no way I could tolerate something like that.

So after confronting him and donig an intervention on the alcohol, it became apparent that he was not ready for change and it was up to me to make some very life changing decisions. At that same time I was working on my master's (will get back to that later) and loving being a mom and working full time.

Somehow I thought I cannot raise these kids with these influence in their lives and that I deserved more than he had to give, so the big D. Which for me was like MAJOR! I never dreampt or would have anticipated in all my life that I could ever have ended up being a single mom with two kids.

My weight at that time starting going up. The husband (I hate that word Ex) lost his law liscense and really went further and further down the tubes and I slowly kept clawing my self and the kids up. I never received one cent from him on child support or helping pay for their educations, so I worked very hard, ate very cheap food and was an emotional wreck I suppose and I believe turned to food.

Needless to say my weight "blossomed". I was following the ADA/FDA all the right things to do, low fat and my cholestrol was high and I felt terrible. My friends kept saying you need to have some fun...and I kept thinking where can I meet anyone, where can I have fun. I am working about 60+ hours a week and you can bet I didn't miss one of my kids baseball, basketball or any other kind of game.

I had just started a great job as Executive Director of a Children's Advocacy Center/CASA program and I absolutely loved it. I could almost feel the growth and the skills bursting out. (Since I am still there today, obviously I still like it). At the Center we see kids who have disclosed sexual or physical abuse, pretty daunting on some days but the kids are so resilient and so wonderful, they really help the staff. I started the agency with one staff (me) and today have 12 including a state's attorney on site, a police officer, DCFS, a therapist and medical components. It really was a wonderful opportunity for me and I took it very seriously, still do!

But I did meet someone, the doc! Strange how a person meets another person and immediately there is something there. So truth time..where did we meet, online! It was the weekend of Princess' Diana's death and I was at the office working late and thought I would look around the Internet. I knew nothing about the Internet...oh dear GOD! At any rate I went into a chat room that was political in nature (definite Democrat here!) and there was discussion about the paprazzi and Princess Di. I remember thinking to myself well I wonder who that person is, he was "Prince of Orion" and he was so friendly and so nice talking with people, I immediately liked him. Well I sure wasn't going to give my real name on line, I mean My God it was the Internet, so I made up some initials and that was my name. (Yes my real name is Billie). Anyway about three weeks later another Friday night, kids out with friends, I am at work and I go into the chat room again. And this prince guy is there and being nice! Hmm I think!!

Long story short, about a month or so after that we exchanged some emails, this Guatemalan man who had just finished his masters. (Ah I never did, 50 hours of graduate course but no thesis) and he called me out of the blue. I just about feel off my chair at the office! :paranoid: What some man called me first of all!! And he is from where!! And he is from the Internet!!! Oh Dear what is my very conservative community and friends going to think! That was about in October. We corresponded via email daily, the phone calls started coming weekly and than...ahm daily and in March we met at O'Hare airport. Gabe decided on his way to Stockholm to work on his Ph.D he would stop and see me! And you know what, somehow this wonderful man so through the fat and loved me, how cool is that!!:nod:

In 1998 I took my first trip to Stockholm, and my EX husband's brother and his wife took me to the airport to put me on the plane so I wouldn't chicken out! I had a great time, wonderful time...and well 7 more trips to Stockholm for me, and about 10 to the States from him...how time flies. I had told my boys how I met Gabe but never anyone else.

In 1999 Gabe found this book called Protein Power and he called me from Stockholm, had all his biochem books out and said it makes so much sense. He tried so hard to find flaws with it but he couldn't. He started on it and of course being the stubborn Irish woman I am, I was very half hearted with it. But later in 1999 I did start it, the board popped up somewhere in 2000 I believe and the rest is history.

What differences...about 10 dress sizes so far...I am not done, about 40 more pounds to go (ah that was BEFORE the October challenge!:D ). But last blood work this spring my cholestrol, tri's etc were really looking very good, much different than the tests I had following the low fat approach. Am I a believer, you are darn right!

When Gabe moved to Raleigh NC to do his post doc work at Duke, my gosh we were on the same continent, an hour apart instead of 7 hours. Life is good. We both were working very hard at our jobs, my youngest was getting ready to leave the house and we were getting to see each other about once every 4 weeks or 6 weeks.

But then after ah 8 years or so, we felt we should either make this a permanent thing or not. OH MY!!! I never thought I would get married again, but you know we are best friends, we talk about everything, we enjoy each other, so we decided to work very hard at our marriage and do it!

In January fo this year, my oldest son raised a glass to toast us. Tears streaming down my face and of course being my son, decided to let it out how Gabe and I met. My friends about dropped their glass of champagne!

We have some challenges ahead of us, we know that, but we have the blessings of children, friends and family. We greet each day with the promise to do our best and each night we think of those we love and are really thankful for the life that we have been given.

I have left a few things out, the pain of the divorce the very hard times when I was raising the kids alone, but you know what I would not give up one of those moments because it helped me be who I am today. I know it helped my chidlren be stronger adults and I know I was given a wonderful person to spend the rest of my life with, my best friend, how great is that!

Phew!!! I will let the doc edit this and add some comments and maybe he can find a picture of the two of us to drop in as well. You see I still am not very good with the computer...but what technology has given me. A great husband and ALL OF YOU!

[Billie]

Now Lisa it is your turn! :)

[BeccainSC]

What a very encouraging life story Billie!

'b

[Missy]

I LOVE IT! :D Thank you for sharing Billie!!! I feel like I "lived" your life through your words with you! I'm SOOOOOOOOOO loving hearing about you and Gabe. :D

I must tell you....the "internet" has changed my life in soooo soooo many ways that I COMPLETELY understand how it's changed yours. I have some of THE MOST rewarding relationships that I would have NEVER had without learning about how to use the internet. I realised a LONG LONG time ago the true "value" one can be lucky enough to find on sites like these. I've seen it, and felt it, and I wouldn't TRADE it for the world....and I don't even TRY to explain it to the "regular" people in my life...lol How amazing to bring the WORLD to your fingertips! Let alone MARRY! How romantic...:D He...YOU are such a KEEPER!

Thank you for sharing. I'd like to see a picture of you...that's the greatest mystery!...funny coming from someone who's not shared HERS, eh? LOL

[Missy]

I think LisaS is the MOST mysterious of us all though! :paranoid:

[Bangs]

Dearest Billie, I am so touched by your story and so grateful that you shared it. Strength, love, courage, and determination in spite of all obstacles. May you and Gabe be blessed with every good thing now and in the future.

[LisaS]

I wrote something - but left it on the hard drive at work - maybe tomorrow night :)

[LisaS]

billie - it was great to read your story -

[SherryJ]

(((((Billie...))))) I enjoyed hearing all that again... remember when I first asked if there was "something" between the two of you? ;)

I love you dearly, and am thrilled the two of you are TOGETHER together, you know? :D

Okay, Babe... what's YOUR side, LOL!?!?!?! :p

Sherry

[joanneb608]

Wow Billie, what a great story! A lot of us can totally relate to the single mom thing, yours truly included! And the link it has to overeating, food is used so much as a comfort thing and not truly for physical hunger.

I can SO relate to being resistant to the possibility of another relationship. After you're on your own (no child support very familiar here) it gets somewhat comfortable and you just aren't motivated to go out into uncharted territory anymore. (At least I see that in myself) I'm so glad for you that you decided to take the plunge anyway! I think the fact that you and Gabe dated for so long was very beneficial to knowing it was probably a good risk to take.:D

Thank you so much for sharing, and how super that Gabe is the kind of person who can "look past" the physical into one's heart. You've certainly found a keeper there!:thumbsup:

I am so glad that you found this forum too, and that you are such a part of the goings-on here. Than you again Billie!:D:);)

[virginia]

wooo... what a exciting story... Billie, thank you so much for sharing it, it is amazing!! You are very stronger and both of you (Gabe and you) deserve to live happy together. I'm absolutely happy for you!!!;)

[cmcole]

Dearest Billie, I am so touched by your story and so grateful that you shared it. Strength, love, courage, and determination in spite of all obstacles. May you and Gabe be blessed with every good thing now and in the future.


DITTO

I echo those sentiments.

[Mitra]

Thank you for sharing your story, Billie. I've heard parts of it, but still learned some more about you. It's wonderful that you find the time and energy to give so much to this board along with all the other demands on you. I look forward to hearing Gabe's perspective :).

[Billie]

Well the Gaber may drop by but believe it or not he is a bit more private than I am---like everyone in the world probably!!! But I am sure he will share somethings.

A few things about him, he is a great communicator, written, verbal, through art, music ( he is quite a pianist) or poetry (has a small book written). He is not the serious guy you always see here AT ALL, he makes me laugh all day long and our life is like a situation comedy! One of his greatest attributes is in his teaching, he is a phenominal teacher, always going one step farther for his students. They adore him! And so does his administrator.

He is probably one of the bravest people I know, coming here from Sweden and then North Carolina, leaving all his friends and coming here because I was not ready to leave my job. That takes an incredible person I believe. And my friends have always been his friends but I also know tha he misses the science world and will be so happy to get back in a full time position--somewhere!! What if we ended up in Ohio by Missy? ;) Oh DEAR!!!

He is EXTREMELY passionate about Protein power for a couple reasons, most of all because it works! He has done a lot of studies and in fact has proposed a research study to a couple different colleges where he is applying for continued research on obesity. He has met both the Drs. Eades and corresponds with Mike on occasion about journal articles and Mary Dan about recipes, so he is the real deal here.

I told him what I wrote here and I don't think he had a chance to look at the board last night but he said did you tell them about Polly!! Our dog!!! Ah the rest for him!

Thanks for the kind words everyone, you know you just get through life the best you can, make some mistakes along the way but you do your best!

[Missy]

End up in OHIO!?!!!!! :D lol WHAT FUN!!!!

I doubt Downtown MILLBURY has anything.....:eek: but..I'll go check! :D

[maxlharris]

Billie,

Great story.

I love that you met on the Internet. I met wife through Internet Personals! No, Really! No globetrotting, thought it did involve going to north St. Louis ;-)

Any rate, congrats on making it this far.

[abbey]

Thanks for sharing Billie :) :) It just amazes me how all of these stories are stories of triumph and success and ultimate happiness. Everyone who has shared so far is a fighter and a survivor and y'all make me proud to know you.

re internet dating: I guessI'm part of the 'internet generation' because pretty much most of the boys (bar 2 I think) I've ever dated I met online.. (and they have all been computer techs.. something in the water I think)

[Belfrybat]

Thanks for sharing about yourself, Billie. Nice to know a bit more about our "fearless leader".

Brigit-Carol (called "BC" by friends)

[hawk]

OK Billie..I'm sitting here with tears streaming.I did not think I was a romantic (closet romantic I guess) What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing with us. You are a brave, brave woman. You take risks. You both took a risk. So many people who get divorced punish everyone they have a relationship with after the divorce. It seems to take alot to step out and trust another person. I'm so glad you both can.I wish you all the best and look foreward to wedding pictures!
When I began PP,my mother had given me the book after my fathers stroke and success on the diet. I began to research it on line and found your website. Gabes web page with the test tubes stared me in the face and convinced me. I am a show me person. But then the heartfelt nudges and encouragement that came from you on the board, kept me coming back. You compliment each other...Heart and head.
This board is like being in a family. You two have lots of "kids" on this board. There are many days I wake up with a burning headache...like today, and I don't care if I eat PP.(I ate left over heroine chicken wings while reading this) If I can drag myself to the computer and read your morning quotes and encouragement... I force myself to rethink things and "care". One summer I never came here because the headaches were so bad . One day my husband said... "SOME lady is e-mailing you Lynn and you need to let her know you are alive." It was Sherry. Now she doesn't let it go that long. She even called me once. It was like Christmas.
Thank you for being here. You probably saved my life.

[Missy]

What a nice post Hawk. I've been touched by these perfect strangers too...how comforting it is to know they care and are out there for us, isn't it?

[SherryJ]

You're sweet, Hawk... thanks!

You're special... Besides, it goes full circle as you keep "tabs" on me and others too, right? :) (I shudder to think that it may be MY fault that Missy's here, too.... LOLOLOLOLOL!!! Take that in the spirit intended, GF... ;))

And, tell G-Man that one day he'll say I'm SOME lady! :D :p :D

Hm-mmm... Gabe and Billie's kid... well, THAT explains a lot!!! :suspicious:

ROTFWL!!! :tongue:

I must need SLEEP...

Sherry

[Billie]

Thanks so much for the kind words Lynn, Max. Abbey, Brigit-Carol, Janet CM and everyone I missed (darn the office is not conducive to fun!!!), I get as much out of this board as anyone else, so it is very good for me!

And that Sherry...Sherry and I had the opportunity to have dinner together one evening when I was in Colorado--talk about the real deal herself!

You guys are rockin!

[SherryJ]

I'm a scary little thang, huh, Miz Billie!?!?!? :D

Ohhhh, I think about that memorable dinner often, and SOOOO look forward to our next one, whenever/wherever it is! :)

Sherry

[gitfiddle]

...he makes me laugh all day long...
That says it all, Billie and Gabe. If you can see the humor in life, you can hold each other up during the times when there doesn't seem to be any.

Great story, and I must say I've heard it before but it's so DARNED romantic that I never get tired of it. Love you both! (Polly too!;) )

[Missy]

Sherry....lol... to highjack briefly Billie's thread....YEP...YOUR FAULT! :D Send the COMPLAINTS to HER! :D

[lizi145]

(((Billie)))Thank you soooo much for sharing your story! Your story was very touching and I really appreciate your sharing it.

BTW, you can't move out to Ohio or anywhere else until I meet you in person!;) Remember...we have to go shopping at TJ's and Whole Paycheck!